Name: Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii 'Big Momma' (Big Momma Turks Cap)

Average Landscape Size: 3–5 ft tall × 3–4 ft wide; can reach 8 ft if left unpruned; upright, bushy habit

Sun Requirements: Partial shade to full shade; tolerates morning sun

Water Needs: Moderate; consistent moisture preferred but drought tolerant once established

Deer Resistance: High

Cold Hardiness: USDA Zones 7–10; dies back in Willis winters but returns reliably from roots

Fertilization & Pruning: Light application of compost in spring; cut back in late winter; benefits from occasional summer pruning to maintain shape

Detailed Description: Meet your new hummingbird headquarters! Big Momma Turks Cap is an absolute showstopper native that hummingbirds literally fight over. Those unique red turban-shaped flowers that never fully open are like little hummingbird magnets from summer through fall. Most homeowners keep these beauties at 3–5 feet, but Big Momma can reach 8 feet if you want a real privacy screen! What's incredible about this native Texas treasure is how it thrives in our shade areas where other flowering plants struggle. Even better, it dies back each winter here in Willis but comes roaring back from the roots every spring, often bigger than the year before. This is the plant that turns your shady spots into wildlife watching stations!

Created: September 2025